Circuit for controlling a lighting unit with light-emitting diodes

ABSTRACT

A circuit capable of receiving, in series with at least one light-emitting diode, a rectified A.C. voltage, comprising: a first gate turn-off thyristor connected to first and second terminals of the circuit; and a control circuit for turning off the first thyristor when the voltage between the first and second terminals exceeds a threshold.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/797,924, filed Jun. 10, 2010, which claims the priority benefit of French patent application number 09/53922, filed on Jun. 12, 2009, which applications are hereby incorporated by reference to the maximum extent allowable by law.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to lighting units with light-emitting diodes intended to receive an A.C. supply voltage. It more specifically relates to circuits for powering such devices.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

For a long time, illumination devices have been formed based on incandescent light bulbs or on fluorescent tubes capable of receiving an A.C. supply voltage, for example, a 220-V mains voltage at 50 Hz. More recently, it has been desired to use light-emitting diodes. Such diodes especially have a long lifetime and a high light output. They however require a power supply circuit capable of receiving the A.C. voltage from the mains.

Conventional circuits operate in linear mode, that is, they provide a D.C. voltage and a power adapted to the electrical characteristics of the diodes. The diodes are then maintained on for the entire duration of each halfwave of the mains voltage. This power supply mode has the disadvantage of decreasing their lifetime. Further, linear power supply circuits generally comprise high-voltage capacitors having the disadvantage of being expensive and bulky.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of an embodiment of the present invention is to overcome all or part of the disadvantages of circuits for powering light-emitting diodes.

An object of an embodiment of the present invention is to provide such a circuit improving the lifetime of the diodes.

An object of an embodiment of the present invention is to provide such a circuit which has low cost and is easy to form.

Thus, an embodiment of the present invention provides a circuit capable of receiving, in series with at least one light-emitting diode, a rectified A.C. voltage, comprising: a first gate turn-off thyristor connected to first and second terminals of the circuit; and a control circuit for turning off the first thyristor when the voltage between the first and second terminals exceeds a threshold.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, said circuit capable of receiving, in series with at least one light-emitting diode, a rectified A.C. voltage, comprises a second thyristor connecting the gate of the first thyristor to said second terminal; and a first resistive element connecting the gate of the first thyristor to said first terminal or to a terminal of application of the rectified A.C. voltage.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, said circuit capable of receiving, in series with at least on light-emitting diode, a rectified A.C. voltage, comprises, in series with the first thyristor, a voltage dividing bridge for setting said threshold, the midpoint of the voltage dividing bridge being connected to a gate of the second thyristor.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, said circuit capable of receiving, in series with at least one light-emitting diode, a rectified A.C. voltage, further comprises a circuit of temporary power storage between the midpoint of the voltage dividing bridge and said gate of the second thyristor.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, said storage circuit comprises: a second resistive element in series with a capacitive storage element, connecting said gate of the second thyristor to said second terminal; and a diode connecting the midpoint of the voltage dividing bridge to said gate of the second thyristor.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the resistivity of said voltage dividing bridge is low as compared to the resistivity of the first resistive element.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a capacitive electromagnetic disturbance attenuation element is connected between said first and second terminals.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first thyristor is maintained on at the beginning of each halfwave of said rectified A.C. voltage, for a period ranging between 5% and 30% of the duration of said halfwave.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides an illumination device intended to receive an A.C. voltage comprising: a bridge for rectifying the A.C. voltage; at least one light-emitting diode; and a circuit capable of receiving, in series with at least one light-emitting diode, a rectified A.C. voltage, according to any of the above-mentioned embodiments, series-connected with said at least one light-emitting diode, between output terminals of said rectifying bridge.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, said circuit capable of receiving, in series with at least one light-emitting diode, a rectified A.C. voltage, forms a dipole.

The foregoing objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be discussed in detail in the following non-limiting description of specific embodiments in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically shows an illumination device with light-emitting diodes;

FIG. 2 shows the simplified electric diagram of the illumination device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows the simplified electric diagram of the illumination device of FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 4A to 4G are simplified timing diagrams illustrating the operation of the illumination device of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For clarity, the same elements have been designated with the same reference numerals in the different drawings. Further, the timing diagrams of FIGS. 4A to 4G are not to scale.

FIG. 1 is a simplified view of an illumination device 1 with light-emitting diodes 3.

FIG. 2 is a simplified electric diagram of device 1.

Device 1 comprises an assembly of light-emitting diodes 3 in series. Terminals A and C (FIG. 2) of diode assembly 3 are connected to a power supply circuit 5 (POWER). In the shown example, terminals A and C respectively correspond to the anode and cathode connection terminals of the assembly of diodes 3 in series.

Circuit 5 is capable of receiving an A.C. voltage V_(AC) (FIG. 2), for example, the mains voltage, and of providing a power adapted to the electrical characteristics of the assembly of diodes 3. Input terminals of power supply circuit 5 are connected to terminals E and F of a base 6. Base 6 may have any shape adapted to a connection on a socket, for example, a screw thread. Other connections may be provided, for example, a direct wiring to a power supply connector. The entire device is assembled in a package 7 only leaving access to base 6 and diodes 3. Transparent glass, not shown, may protect diodes 3.

A switch 9 is generally provided, for example, between a terminal of application of the phase of mains voltage V_(AC) and terminal E of base 6, to control the powering-on of device 1. Switch 9 may correspond to a wall switch that may be actuated by a user.

To improve the lifetime and the efficiency of the diodes, it is provided to maintain them on for a fraction only of each period of the mains voltage, which is sufficient, in relation with the eye's persistence of vision, to guarantee a continuous illumination.

Thus, an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention is to provide a power supply circuit capable of providing a pulse control signal, the electric power received by the diodes depending on the duration of the pulse.

FIG. 3 is the electric diagram of an embodiment of the illumination device of FIG. 2 showing power supply circuit 5 in more detailed fashion.

Terminals E and F of the base are connected to A.C. input terminals of a fullwave rectifying bridge 20 capable of providing, between high and low output terminals H and M, a rectified A.C. voltage V_(ACR). Terminal M for example corresponds to the reference voltage terminal of the circuit or ground. In the shown example, bridge 20 comprises four diodes 21, 23, 25, and 27.

In this example, power supply circuit 5 further comprises a dipole or control circuit 31 connected, in series with diode assembly 3, between output terminals H and M of rectifying bridge 20. Terminal A of diode assembly 3 is connected to terminal H. Terminals I and J of dipole 31 are respectively connected to terminal C of diode assembly 3 and to terminal M.

Circuit 31 comprises a gate turn-off thyristor 33 having its anode connected to terminal I. A voltage dividing bridge formed, for example, of two resistors 35 and 37 in series, is connected between the cathode of thyristor 33 and terminal J. A resistor 39, of strong value with respect to resistors 35 and 37, is connected between the anode and the gate of thyristor 33. Resistor 39 is used to turn on thyristor 33 at the beginning of each halfwave of voltage V_(ACR). A cathode gate thyristor 41 is forward connected between the gate of thyristor 33 and terminal J for controlling the turning off of thyristor 33. The voltage dividing bridge conditions the turning on of thyristor 41.

For the case where thyristor 41 would not be fast enough, a temporary power storage circuit is preferably provided. This circuit, for example, comprises a resistor 43, series connected with a capacitor 45, between the gate of thyristor 41 and terminal J, and a diode 47, forward connected between the midpoint of the voltage dividing bridge and the gate of thyristor 41.

Optionally, a capacitor 49 connects terminal I to terminal J, to attenuate electromagnetic disturbances linked to the switching of thyristors 33 and 41.

Power supply circuit 5 may further comprise, between its input terminals E and F, a varistor 29 of protection against possible overvoltages.

As a specific embodiment:

resistances 37 and 43 are on the order of a few tens of Ω, for example, on the order of 10 Ω;

resistance 35 is on the order of a few hundreds of Ω, for example, on the order of 250 Ω;

resistance 39 is on the order of a few tens of kΩ, for example, on the order of 75 kΩ;

capacitance 45 is on the order of a few hundreds of nF, for example, on the order of 100 nF; and

capacitance 49 is on the order of a few tens of nF, for example, on the order of 10 nF.

FIGS. 4A to 4G are simplified timing diagrams showing examples of the variation of the voltages and currents at different points of the illumination device of FIG. 3. FIG. 4A shows the variation of rectified A.C. voltage V_(ACR). FIG. 4B shows the variation of current I₃₃ flowing through thyristor 33. FIG. 4C shows the variation of current I_(G41) flowing between the cathode gate and the cathode of thyristor 41. FIG. 4D shows the variation of voltage V₄₁ across thyristor 41. FIG. 4E shows the variation of current I₄₁ flowing through thyristor 41. FIG. 4F shows the variation of current I_(LED) flowing through diode assembly 3. FIG. 4G shows the variation of voltage V_(CM) between terminals C and M.

A steady state is assumed, that is, switch 9 is assumed to be on.

At a time t0 of beginning of a halfwave of voltage V_(ACR), thyristor 41 is off. A current flows through diodes 3, resistor 39, the gate of thyristor 33, and resistors 35 and 37. Thyristor 33 thus starts conducting. A conduction path is thus established between terminal A and the ground, running through diode assembly 3, thyristor 33, and resistors 35 and 37 of low value of the voltage dividing bridge. The diodes turn on. Current I_(LED) is then equal to current I₃₃.

From time t0, gate current I_(G41) of thyristor 41 increases proportionally to current I₃₃, to within a factor especially depending on the value of resistors 35 and 37 of the voltage dividing bridge. A current for charging capacitor 45 further flows between the cathode of diode 47 and terminal M. Voltage V₄₁ across thyristor 41 is equal to rectified voltage V_(ACR) minus the voltage drop caused by diode assembly 3 and by resistor 39. Voltage V_(CM) is equal to rectified voltage V_(ACR) minus the voltage drop of diode assembly 3.

At a time t1, current I_(G41) reaches a turn-on threshold I_(TH) of thyristor 41. The turning on of thyristor 41 brings the gate of thyristor 33 to ground (V₄₁=0 V), thus turning it off. Current I₃₃ flowing through thyristor 33 thus becomes zero. There then is a conduction path between terminal A of diode assembly 3 and terminal M, running through diode assembly 3, resistor 39, and thyristor 41. At time t1, current I_(LED) becomes equal to current I₄₁. The value of resistor 39 is selected to be sufficiently high for this current to be very low (it is shown as being zero in FIG. 4F). Thus, diodes 3 turn off substantially at time t1. The values of resistors 35 and 37 of the voltage dividing bridge define the threshold of voltage V_(ACR) for which current I_(G41) reaches turn-on threshold I_(TH) of thyristor 41. The values of resistors 35 and 37 are for example selected so that the time for which diodes 3 are on ranges between 5% and 30% of duration T of a halfwave of rectified voltage V_(ACR). Further, at time t1, voltage V_(CM) is abruptly taken up to the value of voltage V_(ACR) (neglecting the voltage drop in diodes 3 with respect to the voltage drop in resistor 39).

To ensure the priming of thyristor 41, capacitor 45 maintains a non-zero current I_(G41) for some time after time t1.

Thyristor 41 remains conductive until the current that it conducts cancels, that is, until end time t0+T of the halfwave. Thus, diodes 3 are maintained off between times t1 and t0+T.

In a transient state of turning on of switch 9, this turning on may occur at any time of the halfwave. Thyristor 33 turns on at this time but current I_(G41) immediately reaches turn-on threshold I_(TH) of thyristor 41, thus turning off of thyristor 33 and turning off diodes 3 until the beginning of the next halfwave. This enables the diodes to see across their terminals a voltage close to the maximum mains voltage for a very short time, thus avoiding their destruction. The diodes are thus protected.

The use of a fullwave rectifying bridge provides a frequency of the diode control pulses equal to twice the frequency of the A.C. power supply voltage. Such a frequency is sufficient to get rid of possible flickering effects with a mains voltage of 50 Hz or 60 Hz.

An advantage of the provided circuit is that it has a low cost, a small bulk, and is easy to form.

To form a power supply circuit capable of providing a pulse control signal, it could have been devised to use, instead of gate turn-off thyristor 33, a gate turn-on thyristor. This thyristor would then have to be turned on at a time close to the end of each halfwave of the rectified voltage, the diodes remaining substantially conductive until the end of each halfwave. However, spurious voltage peaks may appear, in particular at the turning on of switch 9. Such peaks would be capable of causing the turning-on of the diode turn on thyristor. In this case, the diodes would remain on substantially until the end of the halfwave. If switch 9 had been turned on, for example, at the beginning of a halfwave, the diodes would receive a much greater power than that for which they have been provided, which would cause their destruction.

Specific embodiments of the present invention have been described. Various alterations and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. In particular, the present invention applies whatever the available A.C. supply voltage. Further, the number of light-emitting diodes and their connection may vary.

Further, the illumination device may comprise a dimming function if one of the resistors of the voltage dividing bridge is replaced with a variable resistor.

Moreover, in the circuit described in relation with FIG. 3, terminals A and C of the assembly of light-emitting diodes are respectively connected to terminal H, corresponding to the high terminal of the rectified supply voltage, and to anode terminal I of gate turn-off thyristor 33. According to an alternative embodiment, resistor 37 is connected to terminal M, no longer directly but via diode assembly 3. According to another variation, resistor 39 is no longer connected to terminal C but to terminal H. Such variations may be combined.

Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of this disclosure, and are intended to be within the spirit and the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description is by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting. The present invention is limited only as defined in the following claims and the equivalents thereto. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: at least one light-emitting diode; a thyristor to regulate flow of power through the at least one light-emitting diode; and a control circuit to regulate conductivity of the thyristor, the control circuit regulating the conductivity of the thyristor to make the thyristor conductive for a portion of a period of a power source.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control circuit regulates the conductivity of the thyristor to make the thyristor conductive for a portion of a cycle of an alternating current power signal.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: an input terminal to receive the alternating current power signal from the power source; and a rectifier to produce a rectified signal from the alternating current power signal, wherein the control circuit regulates the conductivity of the thyristor to make the thyristor conductive for a portion of a half-wave of the rectified signal.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the at least one light-emitting diode and the control circuit are arranged to receive the rectified signal.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the thyristor is a first thyristor; the control circuit is connected to a gate of the first thyristor; and the control circuit is adapted to produce a signal for input to the gate of the first thyristor to turn off the first thyristor when the control circuit detects an end of the portion of the period of the power source for which the first thyristor is to be conductive.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the control circuit comprises: a voltage divider, the voltage divider comprising an intermediate node; and a second thyristor, wherein a conductivity of the second thyristor is regulated based on a voltage at the intermediate node of the voltage divider.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein: an anode of the second thyristor is connected to the gate of the first thyristor; the signal that the control circuit is adapted to produce is a signal flowing through the second thyristor when the second thyristor is conductive.
 8. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising: an input terminal to receive an alternating current power signal from the power source; and a rectifier to produce a rectified signal from the alternating current power signal, wherein: the control circuit regulates the conductivity of the thyristor to make the thyristor conductive for a portion of a half-wave of the rectified signal, the voltage divider is arranged to receive the rectified signal, and the second thyristor is arranged to be conductive when a voltage at the intermediate node of the voltage divider exceeded a value.
 9. An apparatus comprising: at least one light-emitting diode; and means for regulating light emission of the at least one light-emitting diode such that the at least one light-emitting diode emits light for a portion of a period of a power source.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the means for regulating the light emission is a means for regulating the light emission of the at least one light-emitting diode such that the at least one light-emitting diode emits light for a portion of a half-wave of a rectified alternating current signal.
 11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the means for regulating the light emission is a means for regulating a flow of power via the at least one light-emitting diode such that power flows via the at least one light-emitting diode for only the portion of the period of the power source.
 12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the means for regulating comprises at least two thyristors. 